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Human trafficking is a booming international trade, making billions of dollars at the expense of millions of victims, many of them children, who are robbed of their dignity and freedom. Although most of us have never witnessed this crime, it happens every day all around the world.
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), with financial support from the Crown Prince of the United Arab Emirates, has therefore set in motion a Global Initiative to Fight Human Trafficking (UN.GIFT). The process, formally launched in London on 26 March 2007, is designed to have a long-term impact to create a turning point in the world-wide fight against human trafficking.
Throughout 2007 and 2008, events will take place across the globe to raise awareness, reduce the vulnerability of potential victims, examine the human impact of this crime and take action to stop it.
The ultimate goal must be to
Download our brochure - Global Initiative to Fight
Human Trafficking (pdf-format)
International laws are in place to fight this crime. Governments have agreed to a UN Protocol against trafficking in persons which provides a working definition of human trafficking and a common basis for criminalizing the trafficking of persons, especially women and children.
By May 2007, 111 states had ratified this Trafficking Protocol, committing themselves to incorporate its provisions in their domestic laws and to fully implement its measures.
The Protocol provides for specific measures to prevent trafficking, protect the victims, and prosecute the criminals.
We have the tools. Lets use them.
UN.GIFT aims to fight human trafficking by building support for the following goals:
The objectives set for the Global Initiative will contribute to achieving the UN Millennium Development Goals of empowering women, improving maternal health, combating HIV/AIDS, eradicating poverty, improving education and developing a global partnership for development.
Human
trafficking affects us all, whether we live in countries of origin, transit or
destination.
Deputy
Secretary-General of the United Nations
Asha-Rose Migiro
Teamwork is vital if we want to take the fight against human trafficking to new levels.
Dedicated individuals and groups around the world are already doing what they can. UN.GIFT aims to harness and combine this enormous goodwill, providing a framework for coherent action.
At the international level, a number of UN agencies and regional programs already deal with many aspects of human trafficking. These institutions have been working together in the Initiatives preparatory phase through a 6-member steering committee.
Furthermore, since 2006 a broad range of activities and partners has been coordinated through the Inter-Agency Cooperation Group against Trafficking in Persons (ICAT).
Governments must be involved, both to steer the process and to strengthen their capacity to fight human trafficking.
At the grass roots level where the problem is most acute, non-governmental organizations and other civil society groups protect victims and raise awareness among vulnerable groups. These groups are the eyes and ears of the global community, the front line of the anti-trafficking movement.
A number of private individuals either through foundations, the media or on their own initiative are champions of the anti-trafficking cause. Their work, either to raise global awareness or to tackle local problems, is an inspiration to us all.
More needs to be done. Member States can help each other in the fight against human trafficking. Civil society should continue to advocate and galvanize a global, broad-based movement into action. Private companies should be active participants within their own communities and spheres of influence. The chance of success is greater if we work together.
Human trafficking is a worldwide phenomenon and manifests itself in many
ways. The Global Initiative will analyze the problem from a wide range of geographical
and thematic perspectives.
In 2007, the preparatory, first phase will:
Regional events (in Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe and Central Asia) will lead to action plans to deal with the causes of vulnerability and the impact of human trafficking. The action plans should be in line with international standards and sensitive to local needs.
There will also be thematic discussions on issues including:
Some events are initiated by UNODC. Others are led by non-governmental organizations, other international groups and visionary individuals. All the events are of great importance in the fight against human trafficking.
This work will build towards a Forum organized in Vienna on 13-15 of
February, 2008. The purpose of the Forum is to take stock of progress made
under the Initiative in 2007 and set the direction for follow-up measures to
prevent and counter human trafficking. It will also assess the lessons learned
regarding the dimensions of the issue and the current plan of action.
The Vienna Forum will focus on three themes:
1. Vulnerability: what factors put people at risk to human
trafficking?
2. Impact: human faces and humanitarian costs.
3. Initiatives: to be generated and implemented globally.
The second phase, which will follow the Forum, is the operational phase. Based on the knowledge, networks and resources acquired through the Global Initiative in 2007, projects will be initiated to prevent and fight human trafficking. The main implementers will be governments and civil society, with technical assistance provided by the international community, and financial support from the private sector and donors. Resources will be channelled through a special purpose fund, disbursed under the guidance of a representative co-ordinating group of stakeholders. Projects will be chosen and evaluated on their ability to make a real difference in the lives of those most vulnerable to, and affected by, human trafficking.
Global Initiative to Fight Human Trafficking
United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime
Vienna International Centre
PO Box 500, 1400 Vienna, Austria
Telefax: (+43-1) 26060-5866
Telephone: (+43-1) 26060-0
E-mail: un.gift@unodc.org
Website: www.ungift.org
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